Golden light wrapped around Kael's body.
His muscles tightened.
His breathing became steady.
The Qi inside his body flowed faster than before.
Body Tempering — Second Layer.
Kael clenched his fist.
The pain from his injuries was still there.
But his body felt different.
Stronger.
Faster.
More stable.
The gray-robed cultivator stared at him.
“A breakthrough during battle?”
His expression turned cold.
“Interesting.”
Kael lowered his stance.
Jian glanced at him.
“Don't get careless.”
“I won't.”
The gray-robed man raised his hand.
“Kill him.”
Three Black Lotus cultivators rushed toward Kael.
The first swung his sword.
Kael stepped sideways.
The blade passed beside his shoulder.
He grabbed the man's wrist.
CRACK!
The sword dropped.
Kael followed with a punch.
BOOM!
The cultivator flew backward.
Before Kael could react, another attacker appeared behind him.
Kael twisted.
A blade cut across his sleeve.
Blood appeared on his arm.
He gritted his teeth.
I'm still too slow.
The enemy attacked again.
This time Kael didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
His fist met the sword.
CLANG!
The blade bent.
The cultivator's eyes widened.
Kael struck his chest.
The man flew into a tree.
The third cultivator hesitated.
Kael looked at him.
“Are you coming?”
The man cursed and attacked.
Kael smiled.
This time, he was ready.
Their fists collided.
BOOM!
Kael was pushed back three steps.
The cultivator was pushed back five.
Kael's eyes lit up.
I'm stronger than him.
He charged.
Not far away, Jian was fighting the gray-robed cultivator.
Their swords clashed repeatedly.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The gray-robed man's expression became darker.
“You've become weaker.”
Jian smiled.
“Age does that.”
“You can't protect the boy forever.”
“I don't need forever.”
Jian's sword flashed.
“I only need today.”
The gray-robed man blocked the attack.
Then he suddenly kicked Jian backward.
Jian landed on one knee.
The man raised his palm.
“It's over.”
A golden streak suddenly crossed between them.
The gray-robed man barely dodged.
A tree behind him was cut in half.
He looked at Kael.
“You…”
Kael stood several meters away.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
He had defeated the three cultivators.
But he was exhausted.
The gray-robed man's eyes narrowed.
“You're only at the Second Layer.”
Kael wiped the blood from his cheek.
“That's right.”
“And you think you can challenge me?”
“No.”
Kael looked at Jian.
Then back at him.
“I know I can't.”
The gray-robed man laughed.
“Then why are you smiling?”
Kael's smile disappeared.
“Because I don't have to beat you.”
He pointed toward the forest.
“I only have to get past you.”
The man's expression changed.
Behind Kael, a narrow path led deeper into the forest.
Jian immediately understood.
“Kael!”
“Go!”
Jian attacked at the same time.
His sword struck the gray-robed man's palm.
BOOM!
The man's attention shifted for one moment.
That was enough.
Kael turned and ran.
“After him!”
The gray-robed man tried to chase.
Jian blocked his path.
“You're not going anywhere.”
The man stared at him.
“Do you really think you can stop me?”
Jian raised his sword.
“No.”
He smiled.
“But I can slow you down.”
Kael ran.
Branches struck his face.
His breathing became heavier.
Behind him, the sounds of battle grew distant.
He didn't look back.
His only goal was simple.
Reach the Ruined Moon Sect.
But after several minutes, Kael suddenly stopped.
Something was wrong.
The forest had become completely silent.
No birds.
No insects.
Not even wind.
Kael slowly looked around.
His instincts warned him.
Danger.
A small stone rolled from a nearby cliff.
Kael looked up.
Nothing.
Then—
A voice came from behind him.
“You're finally alone.”
Kael turned.
A young woman stood between the trees.
She wore a simple white robe.
A sword hung from her waist.
Kael immediately entered a defensive stance.
“Who are you?”
She looked at the golden mark on his palm.
Her expression changed slightly.
“You really are him.”
Kael frowned.
“Him?”
The woman didn't answer.
Instead, she drew her sword.
“I need to test something.”
Kael stared at the blade.
“You're with Black Lotus?”
“No.”
“Then why are you attacking me?”
The woman smiled faintly.
“Because if you're really the person I'm looking for…”
She raised her sword.
“…you won't die here.”
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“What kind of test is that?”
The woman disappeared.
CLANG!
Kael barely blocked the first strike.
The impact sent him sliding backward.
His arms went numb.
She's fast.
Much faster than the Black Lotus cultivators.
She attacked again.
Kael dodged.
Again.
He blocked.
Again.
He was forced backward.
Then suddenly—
His vision blurred.
The forest disappeared.
For a fraction of a second, Kael saw a completely different scene.
The same woman.
The same sword.
The same stance.
And himself standing opposite her.
Older.
Stronger.
Smiling.
A single sentence echoed through his mind.
“Don't trust her.”
Kael's eyes widened.
The vision disappeared.
The woman's sword stopped inches from his throat.
She looked at him carefully.
“You remembered.”
Kael's heart pounded.
“You…”
The woman lowered her sword.
“So it has begun.”
She turned away.
Kael stared at her back.
“Wait!”
She stopped.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked over her shoulder.
“My name is Mei.”
Then she disappeared into the forest.
Kael stood frozen.
He didn't understand what had just happened.
But one thing was clear.
The past was beginning to find him.
And this time...
Kael wasn't sure whether he could trust his own memories.